Gamers, What's Your Audio Set Up?

Will have the Kanto TUKs in the coming days -- Astro A50X and Nova Pro Wireless when I don't wanna wake the neighbours up or if I'm needing a mic. Looking at the Shure mics for when I want to go speakers only. Any recommendations?
 
I’m finally binning my AE5 soundcard to give my incoming 5090 some more breathing room. On the plus side, I’ve ordered a Creative G8 that should allow me to connect my PC and PS5, in theory allowing me to seamlessly use my Arya’s between the two. In theory, we’ll see.
 
There’s currently a £100 off £799 coupon on AliExpress until 20th April.

With this in mind and because I am 1) concerned about price rises due to Donald’s Tariffs and 2) have FOMO due to @mrk i decided to see what I could buy and for how much.

Needless to say I bought for £615 delivered including Vat:

Hifiman Arya Stealth Headphones
XDuoo MH-02 Tube Headphone Dac/Amp
ivipQ-Q09 Phoenixia IEMs

Essentially the Arya’s worked out at £400, and the other two as £107.50 each. Which I think is a bargain.
 
I hold no responsibility for your action :p

Edit*

The Aiyima A80 has been supremely impressive I have to say. The speakers never show any signs of fatigue at any volume and the level shown below is too loud for comfort, but the bass is so crisp, works for some music nicely and movies too.

av_Aiyima_A80_VU-meters.gif
 
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Jenz said:
There’s currently a £100 off £799 coupon on AliExpress until 20th April. With this in mind and because I am 1) concerned about price rises due to Donald’s Tariffs and 2) have FOMO due to @mrk i decided to see what I could buy and for how much. Needless to say I bought for £615 delivered including Vat: Hifiman Arya Stealth Headphones XDuoo MH-02 Tube Headphone Dac/Amp ivipQ-Q09 Phoenixia IEMs Essentially the Arya’s worked out at £400, and the other two as £107.50 each. Which I think is a bargain.
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I had to pay tax and duty for my Xduoo when it landed but not the XS, hope yours come thought unscathed!
 
Jenz said:
There’s currently a £100 off £799 coupon on AliExpress until 20th April.

With this in mind and because I am 1) concerned about price rises due to Donald’s Tariffs and 2) have FOMO due to @mrk i decided to see what I could buy and for how much.

Needless to say I bought for £615 delivered including Vat:

Hifiman Arya Stealth Headphones
XDuoo MH-02 Tube Headphone Dac/Amp
ivipQ-Q09 Phoenixia IEMs

Essentially the Arya’s worked out at £400, and the other two as £107.50 each. Which I think is a bargain.
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I got my Arya’s from Amazon , when I make bigger purchases I like things closer to home in case I ever have any problems .I did get a pair of XS from Ali but sent them back as I found the head band a little too big .The Arya’s have a great sound ,I don’t think you will be disappointed
 
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mrk said:
I should also point out these pads, they will make the Aryas (and any other egg shape Hifiman) much more comfortable as well as tone down any high frequency brightness that may be present depending on the amp you have as hifimans are famous for that.
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Such is your influence on my bank balance I had already bookmarked them awhile back on Amazon as you had linked them before! :D
 
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Reactions: mrk
Raymond Lin said:
I am loving my Xduoo amp more and more, actually more than the Headphones itself, so glad they fix that bug where it didn't remember the volume when it starts. The little ring light on the knob is actually a lovely design touch that is useful. Added a Stream Deck to flip between the amp to internal Mac speakers with a press of a button. Added a headphone stand now too so the headphone is off the desk when not in use yet still plugged in, all within the arm's reach.

Just need to get a leather mat now for the keyboard and mouse.

3sBAklh.jpg
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Great pic.

In particular, I feel that your desk-space is very space-saving (i.e., a very efficient use of the available space).

If at all possible, could you set-out the equipment you have on the desk, especially the monitor (which has a nice low-footprint stand), and the kit underneath the monitor?

The reason I ask is that I have quite a cramped desk, and am looking, medium-to-long-term, to upgrade with:

  1. A new high quality monitor, with a low-footprint stand.

  2. A new set of high quality passive speakers.

    Comments:

    I'm aiming to pick-up a set of speakers about the width of a set of (active/powered) KEF LSX II's (15.5cm [6.1in] wide), or less.

    As a side-note, I'm not completely sold on the active/powered KEF LSX II's at this time, which is why I am considering passives.

    Meanwhile, speakers about the width of a set of KEF LS50 Meta's, or KEF LS50 Wireless I or II's (both 20cm [7.9in] wide), are far too big for my available desk-space, and are therefore out of consideration.

  3. A new discrete amplifier for the passive speakers, which I intend to place under the one of the sides of the monitor, if space allows it.

    Comments:

    On this third point, I am considering a TOPPING LA90 (20.5cm [8.1in] wide, and 9 cm [3.5in] high), but it may be too wide, or even too high.

    Two other alternative options that I had in mind for an amp were units that stand up-right, which I could place over to one-side of one of the speakers. These would be either a NAD D 3020 V2 (a mere 5.8cm [2.3in] wide) or a NAD D 3045 (7.0cm [2.8in] wide).


Thanks so much for any feedback!
 
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artemis789 said:
Great pic.

In particular, I feel that your desk-space is very space-saving (i.e., a very efficient use of the available space).

If at all possible, could you set-out the equipment you have on the desk, especially the monitor (which has a nice low-footprint stand), and the kit underneath the monitor?

The reason I ask is that I have quite a cramped desk, and am looking, medium-to-long-term, to upgrade with:
  • A new high quality monitor, with a low-footprint stand.
  • A new set of high quality passive speakers. (I'm aiming to pick-up a a set of speakers about the width of a set of [active/powered] KEF LSX II's [15.5cm (6.1in) wide], or less. As a side-note, I'm not completely sold on the active/powered KEF LSX II's at this time, which is why I am considering passives. Meanwhile, speakers about the width of a set of KEF LS50 Meta's, or KEF LS50 Wireless I or II's [both 20cm (7.9in) wide], are far too big for my available desk-space, and are therefore out of consideration.)
  • A new discrete amplifier for the passive speakers, which I intend to place under the one of the sides of the monitor, if space allows it. (On this point, I am considering a TOPPING LA90.)
Thanks so much for any feedback!
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The monitor is a Huawei Mateview 28.5” 4k+ monitor. I don’t think they make them anymore. It was £450 and had a £100 cashback back in 2022 when i got it. It has a USB out that can power a MBA (65w) or my old MBP.

The “only” downside to it is the stand is fixed, not VESA, which would have been good, but all the ports are built into the stand so I see why they can’t. The rear of it is flat and wide, I could stick a little hook on it and hang a pair of headphones and have it hidden away saving more space too.

From the left at the bottom

Xduoo XA-22 headphone amp
Caldigit Thunderbolt Pro 4 Dock
Mac Mini on a Raycue SSD hub

The right hand monitor is a Upperfect 16” 3K OLED
Behind the right hand side monitor sits a RODE mic arm and ticked in a OWC SSD enclosure
On the 16” OLED sits an ANKER 2k webcam.

The biggest challenge i had was to keep EVERYTHING connected via the back, so all mic, webcam SSD etc at the back. No wires in the front except for temporary things like USB sticks or charge my phone.

As it happens now, due to the position of the headphone amp, I have a headphone hook on the left side of the desk (on the “wall” of the desk), just out of view. I can just leave it plugged in but also within reach.

I can reach the rear headphone amp with my left hand. Mac Mini can be switched on with the duck beak. Very tight space but I have everything on it now. I have even added a Stream Deck that sits on the circular base of the 16” OLED too so my actual desk space isn’t taken up.

In regular use I put my phone under the monitor, I wish it has a wireless charging pad right there but I can’t seem to do it neatly, at least can’t figure out how at the moment.
 
I've had the NADs, D 3020, D 3045 and D 7050. They are good but all of them have flaws that /will/ manifest after warranty expires and repair costs are almost as much as the unit RRP, hence why I ditched NAD in favour of Topping/Aiyima as far as speaker power amps go.

Given how much a NAD D costs, the Toppings and this Aiyima offer far better value and equally similar sound quality and power, if not better.
 
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artemis789 said:
Thanks so much for setting out those details Raymond -- very informative, and much appreciated.
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I forgot my BenQ Halo light bar and the puck dial (which can be put anywhere as its battery powered).

There is also a Govee light strip behind the desk and to the side.

Both lights are USB powered using the monitor’s USB ports so not taking up a data port on my Mac or Caldigit. The on/off button on the Govee is positioned just the back of the desk below the headphone amp but can also be turned on by an app on my phone. There’s also a plugin too for the Stream Deck but I can’t seem to get it to work though.

My keyboard has a volume dial, I’ve also set plugin on the stream deck to adjust both volumes as well, play/pause, skip songs and other media controls.

There is space for the mic arm to swivel round to the front too and be lowered right to my face. The lower position of the 16” allow it to get lower than necessary.
 
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mrk said:
I've had the NADs, D 3020, D 3045 and D 7050. They are good but all of them have flaws that /will/ manifest after warranty expires and repair costs are almost as much as the unit RRP, hence why I ditched NAD in favour of Topping/Aiyima as far as speaker power amps go.

Given how much a NAD D costs, the Toppings and this Aiyima offer far better value and equally similar sound quality and power, if not better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the steer there mrk -- very much appreciated.

I'll do a little bit of research on some units, to find one with with the best performance I can get, at dimensions that will be a good fit for my cramped desk.
 
SMSL/Topping/Aiyima/Fosi Audio and many others all do compact units that take up very little desk space, my DAC + Amp combo for example is very desk space friendly and offers powerhouse levels of sound for speakers and headphones alike.
 
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